Ernesto Gismondi Lighting: Discovery, Nur and Outdoor Designs

Artemide founder Ernesto Gismondi

Ernesto Gismondi founded Artemide in 1960 and trained as an aeronautical engineer, so his own lamps are light, efficient and easy to place. We specify them where a room needs a lot of light from very little visual weight: over tables, in tall rooms and outdoors.

“Discovery over the table, Nur where the ceiling is tall, Chilone along the path.”

Our rule of thumb

Over tables and in open rooms

The Discovery is our first choice when a dining table, lobby or meeting room needs a large light that does not block the view: the aluminum ring and clear PMMA disc read as almost nothing when off, then glow evenly when on. It won the Compasso d’Oro in 2018 and comes as a pendant, floor lamp and wall and ceiling light, so a project can repeat one look across rooms.

Tall ceilings and everyday rooms

  • Nur (Red Dot, 2004) is a wide, shallow dome for double-height living rooms, stairwells and hospitality spaces.
  • Miconos pairs a hand-blown glass globe with polished chrome for hallways, bathrooms and bedrooms.
  • Febe is very thin, so it works on low ceilings and in corridors.

Gardens, paths and terraces

For outdoor work we use Chilone (Wallpaper* Design Award, 2010), Tetragono and Piroscafo to mark paths and entries, and Calumet for a soft, ambient terrace light.

Credentials
  • Discovery: Compasso d’Oro ADI, 2018
  • Nur: Red Dot Design Award, 2004
  • Chilone: Wallpaper* Design Award, 2010
  • Miconos: BIO 16 selection, Ljubljana, 1998

Our Ernesto Gismondi picks

15 pieces sorted by where they go, all available to order now

Entries, halls and corridors11 picks

Artemide Chilone Wall Light in a room settingWall LightArtemide Chilone Wall LightFrom $944View detailsArtemide Discovery Wall & Ceiling Light in a room settingCeiling LightArtemide Discovery Wall & Ceiling LightFrom $2,036View detailsArtemide Miconos Ceiling Light in a room settingCeiling LightArtemide Miconos Ceiling LightFrom $692View detailsArtemide Febe Wall & Ceiling Light in a room settingCeiling LightArtemide Febe Wall & Ceiling LightFrom $1,172View detailsArtemide Miconos Wall Light in a room settingWall LightArtemide Miconos Wall LightFrom $652View detailsArtemide Nur Ceiling Light in a room settingCeiling LightArtemide Nur Ceiling LightFrom $500View detailsArtemide Calumet Ceiling Light in a room settingCeiling LightArtemide Calumet Ceiling LightFrom $720View detailsArtemide Effetto Wall Light in a room settingWall LightArtemide Effetto Wall LightFrom $632View detailsArtemide Molla Wall Light in a room settingWall LightArtemide Molla Wall LightFrom $876View detailsArtemide Niki Wall & Ceiling Light in a room settingCeiling LightArtemide Niki Wall & Ceiling LightFrom $172View detailsArtemide Tetragono Wall Light in a room settingWall LightArtemide Tetragono Wall LightFrom $864View details

Dining rooms and kitchen islands2 picks

Artemide Febe Pendant Light in a room settingPendant LightArtemide Febe Pendant LightFrom $1,224View detailsArtemide Nur Pendant Light in a room settingPendant LightArtemide Nur Pendant LightFrom $720View details

Exteriors and patios1 pick

Artemide Ego Drive-Over In-Ground Light in a room settingOutdoor LightingArtemide Ego Drive-Over In-Ground LightFrom $268View details

Living rooms and bedrooms1 pick

Artemide Ilio Floor Lamp in a room settingFloor LampsArtemide Ilio Floor LampFrom $1,020View details

Guides that use Artemide lighting

Sources: MetropolitanDecor product listings for Artemide designs by Ernesto Gismondi.